Picture your students, even your most reluctant readers, interacting
with books. Children from the audience act out my stories using
props I bring along while I do dramatic readings and show slides
of the
illustrations. Since a frequent comment is, “Let’s do
it again!” your students may even want to collect their own
props to extend the role-playing into the classroom.

A first grader acts out The Dress I'll Wear to the Party at Hicks Elementary, Wayne-Westland, MI

“The kids spoke about you for days.
The boy who said he’d never met a real author before now
has added being one to his list of dreams. You made an impression.”

First
Grade Teacher

How Writers
Work Grades 2 – 3 (60
minutes)

Do books magically appear on library shelves? What does a writer
do if she doesn’t know how to start a story? When your students
see story webs, drafts, revisions, and edited manuscripts from
my files your students will see that published writers use the
same
writing processes they practice in their classrooms. Each session
includes the reading of a Native American legend from my book,
From the Land of the White Birch, acting out one of my
picture books,
and time for questions from the students.

Jenny has become a special friend since I visited her school in Hillsdale, MI

“Thank you for coming to our school.
You have filled my head with stories!”

Lily, Second Grade

Reading to
Writing and Back Again Grades 4 – 5 (60 minutes)

If you really want
to learn about something, write about it! Slides illuminate my
reasons for
writing and the research that went into
From the Land of the White Birch. Students will see
how their teacher working with them is very much like the way
an editor works
with
a writer. They will participate in an activity from my book
Liberty and Justice for All, A First Look at Core Democratic
Values.

Signing books at the Barry County Young Authors' Festival, Hastings, MI

“I learned that not all of the ideas for
stories come from the mind of the author. I learned that your friends
can give you ideas.”

Patrick,
Fourth Grade

Writing as
a Career Grades 6 – 8
(60 minutes)

Middle-school kids are curious about what it’s
like to be a writer.
“Do you write every day?”
“How long does it take to write a picture
book?”
“How many revisions do you do?”
“How does a writer get paid?”
Questions from the audience shape this presentation.

At Marshall Elementary in Byron Center, MI, I visited with Brian, a former student, who is now a teacher.

“It is exciting to see the things you have done. I admire you for it.
It was helpful for me to hear how you went about it.”

Signing books at the Festival of Faith and
Writing Conference, Grand Rapids, MI

A former elementary teacher, I incorporate ideas relevant to
the curriculum at each grade level in presentations that are
both
entertaining and educational. A day’s visit includes
three presentations and book signing. My fee is $600
per day,
plus travel expenses. To arrange a visit please contact me: